Chościsko is a legendary or semi-legendary figure in early Polish history, primarily known from the chronicles of Jan Długosz. He is presented as an ancestor of the Piast dynasty, specifically as the father of Popiel I and the grandfather of Lestek (Lestko), thus preceding the first historically confirmed ruler of Poland, Mieszko I.
According to Długosz's 15th-century Annales seu cronicae incliti Regni Poloniae (Annals or Chronicles of the Famous Kingdom of Poland), Chościsko was a simple ploughman, much like his more famous descendant, Piast the Wheelwright. This narrative aligns with the Piast dynasty's origin myth, emphasizing their humble, native roots in contrast to foreign, often oppressive, rulers. Długosz's chronicles are a significant source for early Polish history, but many of the figures and events described before Mieszko I are considered legendary or semi-legendary, lacking corroboration from other independent sources.
Chościsko's existence is not supported by archaeological evidence or contemporary historical records from the period he supposedly lived (pre-9th century). He is generally regarded by modern historians as a figure created or transmitted within oral traditions and later codified by Długosz to provide a complete, albeit mythical, genealogy for the Piast rulers and to legitimize their claim to the throne by linking them to the very early, indigenous origins of the Polish state. His name, like those of other early legendary figures such as Popiel or Piast, forms part of the traditional, foundational narrative of the Polish state.